Stair and platform structure



A. J. HALL STAIR AND PLATFORM STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 22, 1924 July 201926. 1,593,255

Patented July 20, 1926.

AKOS J. I-IALL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

STAIR AND PLATFORM STRUCTURE.

Application led December 22, 1924. Serial No. 757,367.

My invention relates to the construction of stairs and platformsgenerally and to connecting and supporting means therefor particularly.`f

One of the objects of my invention is a simple and easily installedstair and platform structure.

Another object is to reduce. the cost of production as well as the costof installation of such structures by arranging the elements thereof sothat most of the work thereon can be performed in the shop, therebyleaving as little as possible of the work to be done in the field.

Another object is to reduce the cost of production of such structures bysimplifying the members and the joints thereof.

Another object is a stair and platform structure in which the platformcan be anchored in a wall and the stair structure adjusted thereon tosuit the conditions of the building.

Another object is to simplify the connections between the members ofsuch structures so that as little as possible field work is required toinstall these structures and so that as few as possible bolts or rivetsor other similar expediencies are required to install such structures.

Another object is to simplify the connections between the platform andthe posts and the stair stringers.

In former stair and platform structures, one of the important items isthe cost of the field work for installing such structures.

Usually, the shop work of such structures is fairly accurate so thatsuch structures would assemble easily in the field if the buildings werealso fairly accurate.

Usually, a building can not be erected as accurately as the stair' andplatform details can be made in the shop; the walls may be out ofsquare, or not parallel, or the height of the anchor holes from thefloor above or below may not be correct; in short, it is practicallyimpossible to construct a building as accurately as the stair andplatform details.

Therefore, with the `former'stair and platform structures, considerablefitting was required when such structures were assembled in the field orinstalled in a building, thereby consuming much time and expense.

The present invention aims to eliminate this consumption of time andexpense by providing a stair and platform structure which can beinstalled almost anywhere, within reason, which is accomplished byarranging the members thereof so that they can be adjusted to theconditions found in buildings or otherwise without fitting or other timeconsuming operations, by merely locating the starting or first installedmember as best suits the building, then attaching the other membersthereto and locating them thereon, and then clamping the whole structuretogether.

. My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig.l is a general perspective view of a stair and platform structureembodying the features of my invention and showing a stairway and aportion of a platform supported in a wall and also showing the neatappearance caused by the absence of bolt or rivet heads on the outsideof the structure.

Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective' view showing a portion of a post andthe support beam passing therethrough and the clamp means for clampingthe support beam to the post.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the central portion of Fig. l showing thefronti portion of the platform and the relation thereto of the posts andthe support beam and the stair stringers.

Fig. 4f is a partial section, taken on a vertical plane indicated by theline 4 in Fig. 3, showing the notch and the ear on the upper end of thestringers and the relation of these ends to thel support beam.

Fig. 5 is a partial section, taken on a vertical plane indicated by theline 5 in Fig. 3, showing the notch and the ear on the lower ends of thestair stringers and the relation of these ends to the vsupport beam.Fig. 6 is a sectional view, taken on a horizontal plane indicated by theline 6 in Figs. L and 5, showing moreclearly the manner of securingthe-stair stringers to the posts.

Fig. 7 is a partial section of the lower ends of the lower posts, takenon a vertical plane indicated by the line 7 in Fig. l, showing the notchand the ear on the bottom of the lower stair stringers and the relationof these lower ends to the posts.

Fig. 8 is a partial section, taken on a hori- Cil zontal plane indicatedby the line 3 in Fig. 7, showing the manner of securing the lower endsof the stringers to the bottom posts.

Fig. 9 is a sectional perspective view showing the typical connectionbetween the tread and risers and the stringers.

Similar reference characters reifer to simi lar parts throughout theviews.

The structure shown in the accompanying drawing comprises, principally,the platform A (shown partly only), the lower stair unit B (shownt'ully), theupper stair unit C t also shown partly only), the middlepost l), the endA posts E and F, and the lower posts G and Hl Theplz'it-'orm` may have any suitable 'trame uponwhich the floor 10 insupported. Any or all of theseitrame members may be anchored in'or on-awall. For present purposes it is necessary to refer-to only one ottlieseat'ramemembers, the beam 11, the ends 12` otwhicli are anchoredinthe walls 13 and 111# respectively,

The middle postD is hollow and has the openings 15 through the walls 16and 17 thereof to permit the beam 11 to pass through this post, or inother words, permit the post Dto be slipped onto the beam.11 and to bemoved thereon to adjust the same thereon into desired position.l

For-the purpose of'economy of manuiae ture, l prefer to make theopenings 15 a little larger than the sectional outline of the beam11 sothat-this post can be slipped overthe beamfl readily and without fit.-ting. The-walls 19 ofthe openings 15 are flush with the inside-ofthewall 18 so that the becket" the beam-11 bears thereon when the post D isclamped thereon. The walls 2O ot the openings 15j rest on` the top oftthe beam 11, thereby supporting the post D on thefbeam 11 vertically.

As seen in Fig. 2, the back of the beam 11Ab'ears on the wall 18- of thepost D and this post is supported vertically'onthe top ot the beam 11.In order to retain this postr Drin desired longitudinal position on thebeam 11, I provide the clamp J' having` the portion 21 to engagethe endsof the lianges oie the beam 11 and the portions 22 bearing against theinside of the 7all 8. The bolts 23, pass through the wall 18 iu throughthe portions 22y and, upon rtening thereof, securely clamp the post Dlaterally onto the bea-m11.y

The postsA E and` F are similar to the post D, are supportedon the beam11 in the same man-nenas' the postD, and are clamped to the beam 11 inthe same manner as the The lowerr stair unit' is composed ot thestringers 24 and 25 and the treads 26 and the risers 27.

The upper stair unit is composed of the stringers 2S and 29 and thetreads 30 and the risers 31.

ln the present instance, each oi' the stair units is held into a unit bythe lugs 32 :Formed on the ends of all ot the treads and risers andpassing through openings in the webs oi' the stringers and bent againstthe inside of these webs as illustrated in Fig. 9.

:is seen in Figs. 1, ll, and 5, the wall 18 of the post D has theopenings 33 and 3i and that the upper end of the stringer 21k passesthrough the opening 33 and extends into the interior or hollow oiz thepost Dand that the lower end of the Stringer 29 passes through theopening 311 and also extends into the interior or hollow of the post D.

The posts E and F are similar to the post D except that only onestringer enters each post; therefore, l have designated thecorrespondingportions of' these posts by the same reference characters as the post D.

As seen in Fig. 4, the upper end oi each of the stringers 24tand 25 hasthe notch 35 leaving the ear 36 by means oi which these upper ends aresupported on the beam` 11.

The inner walls 37 of the openings 33 and 34: are Hush with theinside-ot the walls 16 and 17 so that the ears 36 bear on these walls.

The upper ends ot the stringers 24 and 25 are secured to the respectivesides ot the posts by the bolts 38 which pass through the ears 36 andthrough the walls 16 or 17.

is seen in Fig. 5, the lower end of each ot the stringers 2S and 29 hasthe notch 39 lea-ving the ear d() which abuts the top of the beam 11;thereby supporting the stringers 23 and 29 on the beam 11. 'The ears l()are secured to the walls 16 or 17 by the bolts 38 similar to theears 36.

The posts G and H are similar, each is hollow and has the walls Ll1 andL12. The wall 411 is provided with the opening 43 having the wall 14Cthereof flush with the inside of the wall l2.

rlhe lower end of each string-er 24 and 25 has the notch d5 leaving theear 16 which extends into the interior or hollow of the posts G or H andis secured to the wall 42 by the bolt 38. The notched portion 15 abutsthe walls 11 and 17 of the opening 13, thereby, augmented by the bolts38 at this end, supporting` the lower end ot the stringers and 25 on theposts G and H.

A.. platform or landing similar to the platform A is provided at theupper end of the stringers 23 and 29 similar to the installation of theupper end ot' the stringers 24 and 25 on the platform A.

lVith the present invention', the stair and platform units can be madeand assembled completely in the shop and moved into the field and placedin position there.

Vhen the platform is in position in the building according to provisionsmade in the building for such position, the posts are loose on the beam1l and can be moved thereon longitudinally of the beam. The ends of thestringere of the stair units are then inserted into the respectiveopenings in the posts whereupon each stair unit and posts connectedthereon is moved laterally on the beam 11 to adjust the stair units inrelation to the walls of the building. .After the stair units are soadjusted, the bolts 23 and 38 are tightened, thereby assembling orinstalling the stair and platform members into a rigid structure withoutfitting or other time consuming operations and locating the structure indesired relation to the walls of the building. y

The posts G and H can be embedded in the floor as shown in Fig. l, ormay rest on the top of the floor, or may have flanges or other'restingor anchoring means.

The structure shown and described is very simple and thereforeeconomical of manufacture; the individual units of the structure aremade complete in the shop which also is economical; the individual unitsare moved into the field and there assembled without fitting or othertime consuming operations, thereby reducing the cost of installation;the units are adjustable in relation to the building, thereby furtherreducing the cost of installation; and the units are rigidly secured inposition by merely tightening a few bolts, thereby further reducing thecost of installation.

rlhe accompanying drawing shows one embodiment of my invention; I amaware that my invention can be embodied in other forms or in othercombinations ofelements and that modifications may be made within thescope of the appended claims; therefore, without limiting myself to theprecise construction and arrangement shown and described, l claim l. Astructure of the character described, comprising, a platform, connectingmechanism slidable laterally on said platform, a stair structure restingon said platform and attached to said connecting mechanism and movabletherewith, and means for clamping said connecting mechanism to saidplatform.

2. A structure of the character described, comprising, a platform, postsresting on said platform and laterally slidable thereon, a stairstructure having one end thereof resting on said platform and attachedto said posts, and said stair structure movable with said posts topermit of adjustment thereof in relation to said platform and tostructure adjacent to said stair structure.

3. A structure of the character described,

comprising, a platform having beams, posts supported on one of saidbeams, a stair structure having stringers, each of said stringersnotched to form ears resting on said one beam, each of said ears securedto the respective one of said posts, and said posts adjustable laterallyon said one beam while said stair structure is being associated withsaid platform.

l-. Ay structure of the character described, comprising, a platformhaving beams, posts supported on one of said beams, a stair structurehaving stringers provided with openings through the webs thereof, eachof said stringers notched to form ea resting on said one beam, tread andriser sections on one end of said stair structure resting -v on saidplatform and adapted to move laterally thereon to permit of lateraladjustment of said stair structure in relation to said platform and tostructure adjacent to said stair structure, and the posts on the otherend of said stair structure fined in position to retain said stairstructure in adjusted position.

6. A structure of the character described, comprising, a platform havinga stair supporting beam, and a stair structure ccmprising a pair ofstringers having openings through the webs thereof and notches in theends thereof to form ears, tread and riser sections between saidstringers, lugs on said sections and extending through said openings andbent against the webs of said stringers to form a unitary stairstructure, said ears resting `on said beam to support said stairstructure vertically, and said ears secured to said platform to preventlateral movement of said stair structure on said platform.

7. A structure of the character described, comprising, a platform havinga stair supporting beam, a stair structure having stringers, and treadsand risers between them an ear on one end of each of said stringers, andeach of said ears resting on said beam free of lateral confinementthere- 8. A structure of the character described, including, a stairstructure having stringers,

and treads and risers between them, one end of each of said stringerehaving a seat, each t lll ofsaid seats resting on a stair supportVertically to support one end ot said stair structure and each ot' saidseats slidable laterally on said chair support to permit ot lateraladjustment of said stair structure in relation to the stair support andto struct-ure adjacent to said stair structure.

9. A stair structure including, a pair of stringers, a hollow post onthe lower end ot each of said stringers, the lower end of each oiE saidstringers having` a seat abutting one ot the walls oit' the hollow postthereon, and the lower end of each .of said stringers having an earextending through said one wall and secured to the wall adjacent to saidone wall.

l0. A stair structure including, a pair of ot said stringere, each endof each of saidstringers having a seat and an ear, eac-h ot' said seatson one end of said stringers resting on a stair support meansvertically, and each ot said ears cxtendingv through one of the wallsoi' the post on the corresponding end of the stringers and secured tothe wall adjacent to this one wall.

ll. A structure ot the character described, comprising, a plat-torni anda lower stair unit and an upper stair unit associated therewith, eachor' said stair units having stringers, three hollow posts supported onsaid platiorm, the upper ends ot said string*- ers of the lower stairun'it resting on said platform, the lower ends of said stringere of theupper stair unit resting on said platform, the upper end of one of saidstringers ott the lower stair unit and the lower end of one ot saidstringere of the upper stair unit extending through one ot the walls otthe middle one of said posts and secured to the walls adjacent to thiswall, the upper end of the other of' said stringers of the lower stairunit extending through one of the walls of one of the end posts andsecured to the wall adjacent to this one wall, and the lower stringereot the upper stair unit extending through one of the walls of the otherof the end posts and secured to the wall adjacent to this one wall.

l2. A structure of the character deend of the other of saidl scribedcomprising, a platform and a stair structure associated1 therewith,posts connecting said platform and said stair structure, said platformhaving ay beam extending through all of said posts, each of said postsslidable laterally on said beam, said stair structure secu-red to saidposts and slidable laterally with saidposts to permit of lateraladjustment of stair structure in relation to said plat-form and tostructure adjacent to said stair structure, andclamp means to clamp saidposts to saidbeam in adjustedy position.

13. A structure of the character described, comprising in combination, aplatform and a stair struc-ture associated therewith, posts connectingsaid platform and said stair structure, said platform having a beamextending through all or' said posts, each of said posts slidablelaterally on said beam, said stair structure including stringers havingopenings through the webs thereot, tread and riser sections between saidstringere. lugs on said tread and riser sections and extendingthrough-said openings and bent against said webs to form a unitary stairstructure, the ends of said stringers secured to said posts and slidablelaterally with said posts to permit of lateral adjustment of the unitarystair structure in relation to said platform and to structure cent tosaid stair structure, and clamp means to clamp said posts to said.beamin adjusted position;

lil. A structure ot the character described, comprising,- a platformhaving a beam and a' stair structureas'sociated therewith, postssupported on saidbea-m and slid'- able thereon laterally, said stairstructure secured to saidposts andl slidable therewith to permit oflateral adjustment of said stair structure irl-relation to said platformand to structure adjacent to said stair structure, a

clamp associatedl with each of saidposts, each of said clamps embracingsaid beam traversely, and bolts to secure each of said clamps to thepost thereof and thereby clamp said posts toA said beam in adjustedposition.

AKOSv J. HALL.

